RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-05450

			COUNSEL:  NONE

			HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be allowed to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill education 
benefits to his dependents.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Prior to his retirement out-processing he attempted to transfer 
education benefits to his dependent but was unable to due to 
technical difficulties with the website.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 16 Dec 76, the applicant commenced his enlistment in the Air 
National Guard (ANG).  On 30 Nov 11, the applicant retired and 
was credited with 33 years, 9 months, and 19 days of total 
active service.

The applicant is entitled to benefits under the Post-9/11 GI 
Bill program.  Because he was retirement eligible prior to 
1 Aug 09, he would not have incurred an active duty service 
commitment (ADSC) had he elected to transfer his benefits to his 
dependents prior to his retirement.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility, which is attached at Exhibit C.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

NGB/A1Y recommends granting the requested relief noting the 
applicant attempted in good faith on two occasions with the 
assistance of his ROM to transfer education benefits to his 
dependents.  

The Post-9/11 GI Bill program became effective on 1 Aug 09.  
Service members approved to transfer educations benefits under 
this program must transfer the benefits while serving on active 
duty.  This information was disseminated via government-hosted 
websites prior to the effective date of the program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Department of 
Defense (DoD) and the Military Services widely publicized the 
Post-9/11 GI Bill and the transferability feature.  DoD 
developed a special website, hosted by Defense Manpower Data 
Center (DMDC), to facilitate the transfer of educational 
benefits.  The website system was operational on 27 Jun 09 for 
the purpose of accepting transfer of benefits applications.  The 
ANG used Retention Office Managers (ROMs) at each Wing to 
disseminate information regarding the transfer of education 
benefits to unit members.

The DMDC website established to facilitate the transfer of 
benefits has the feature to track the service member’s transfer 
from the initial request to any changes or modifications made to 
the request.  This feature started tracking requests submitted 
beginning 14 Aug 10.  A search was conducted and found no 
records for the applicant.

The ROM from the applicant’s former unit remembers meeting with 
the applicant on two separate occasions to specifically 
accomplish his transfer of education benefits, but was 
unsuccessful due to technical difficulties with the MILCONNECT 
website.  Due to a situation beyond the applicant’s control he 
reached his retirement date without completing his request to 
transfer his education benefits to his dependents.

A complete copy of the NGB/A1Y evaluation is at Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 18 Aug 14 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit C).  As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office.


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We took 
notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits of the case and agree with the opinion and recommendation 
of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been 
the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, we recommend 
the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below.


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he 
elected to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Benefits 
on 30 November 2011. 



The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-05450 in Executive Session on 8 Dec 14, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Nov 13.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records
	Exhibit C.  Letter, NGB/A1Y, undated, w/atch.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Aug 14.